Last updated: September 18th, 2023
There are over 300 office chair makes and models on the Australian market. You can save yourself a lot of time (and choose the right chair for you), by understanding which tier each chair belongs to. Here are the quick takeaways:
- There is a strong correlation between price and ranking.
- You get what you pay for.
- Tier 1 is the best (and cheapest) long-term option in the long run.
- Tier 2 is your next best bet if you don’t have the cash to buy Tier 1.
- Avoid most Tier 3 and all Tier 4 chairs.
Tiers Of Office Chairs: At A Glance.
The best office chairs rank highly across key criteria.
These are ergonomics, aesthetics, build quality, the sophistication of recline mechanisms and warranty length.
| Tier | Ergonomic Features | Aesthetics/ Design | Build Quality | Premium Mechanisms | Warranty Periods | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | High | Extreme | Extreme | Yes | 5 years – lifetime | $1300- $2500 |
| 2 | High | High | High | Yes | 5-12 years | $600- $1300 |
| 3 | Minimal | Mininal | Moderate | No | 1-3 years | $300- $600 |
| 4 | None | None | Cheap | No | 1-3 years | < $300 |
Tier 1: Top-Tier Office Chairs.
These are chairs that you “buy for life”. Rugged construction, easily replaceable individual parts, and generous (5 years / 10 years / lifetime) warranties translate to long lifespans.
You can find examples of top-tier office chairs serving for 15+ years.
High emphasis on both aesthetics and ergonomics (what makes an office chair ergonomic?) tends to drive up the prices, as it’s surprisingly difficult to build an office chair that’s both good-looking and highly adjustable.
- Expect to pay more than $1300, with some examples running at around $2,500.
People who buy these chairs aren’t shopping around on price. On the contrary, the high price is part of the value proposition, imparting exclusivity (what are the most expensive office chairs in the world?)
Examples of Tier 1 office chairs:
- Steelcase Leap
- Herman Miller Embody
- Herman Miller Cosm
- Herman Miller Aeron
- Humanscale Freedom
(Related: Best Standing Chairs And Stools You Can Buy).
Tier 2: Mid-Range Office Chairs.
Offering outstanding value for money, Tier 2 office chairs are typically priced between $600 and $1300.
They are almost as smooth and comfortable as the ones you’ll find in top-tier office chairs.
Expect excellent ergonomic features (ergonomic chairs tested and ranked), which should include, at a minimum:
- Seat pan depth adjustment
- 4D armrests
- Lumbar support height and tension
- Recline tension and lock
An office chair in this tier should not feel cheap, but won’t have the same premium, bulletproof feel you can expect from a Tier 1 chair. Warranties are impressive, with most falling in the 5-10 year range.
Examples of Tier 2 office chairs:
- Ergotune Supreme
- Ergohuman Elite
- Desky Pro+
- Steelcase Personality Plus
- Haworth Soji
(Related: The Correct Way To Recycle Your Old Office Chair).
Tier 3: Budget Office Chairs.
Your first office chair was probably from Tier 3. It’s a budget option that, more often than not, has an unmistakable cubicle aesthetic.
Expect adjustments to be decent, but limited. Lumbar support, for example, will be either fixed, nonexistent or have a crude tension adjustment.
- Build quality in this tier ranges from very cheap to surprisingly OK.
Manufacturers must use inexpensive mesh, fabric, leather and plastics to make this low price point workable, so don’t expect a chair that feels like a premium product.
Mesh on budget chairs is often too hard or too soft. Fabrics, meanwhile, are either too spongy or too hard.
Expect yours to last for 3 years, and if something breaks during this period, you may find it easier to replace the whole chair than go through the hassle of repairing it.
(Related: The Right Way To Clean Your Office Chair).
While we’re on the subject of longevity, warranties on budget office chairs typically range between 1 and 3 years.
Price range is $300-$600.
Examples of Tier 3 office chairs:
- Ikea Markus
- Sihoo M57
- Elite Central
Tier 4: Cheap Office Chairs.
The tier you should avoid. Usually comprised of mass-produced office chairs that cost less than $300, cheap office chairs are not designed with ergonomics, comfort or looks in mind.
- You can find hundreds of them in places like Officeworks, Ikea, and direct-to-consumer brands like Elite Office Furniture.
They’re not a bad option if you’re low on cash and simply need something to sit on for a couple of hours daily.
However, you’ll probably find that investing in one of these is an exercise in false economy.
A lack of ergonomic features can aggravate your underlying back issues (best office chairs for people with lower back issues), while cheap materials will lead to its early demise.
(Related: 7 Benefits Of Ergonomic Chairs).
Final Thoughts About Office Chair Tiers.
Sitting experience is very subjective, which is why I recommend testing a chair before you buy it. Or, at least, buy from a brand that offers risk-free returns. Even Tier 1 chairs are not universally loved.
Steven
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven